UMF student standing in front of materials in the Spenciner Cirriculum center

Spenciner Curriculum Materials Center

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Spenciner Curriculum Materia...

A Place for Teaching, Learning, and Inclusion

The Spenciner Curriculum Materials Center (SCMC) at UMF supports educators, students, and families with resources that inspire effective teaching and inclusive learning.

Located in the Kalikow Education Center and managed by the Mantor Library staff, the Spenciner Curriculum Materials Center serves as a hands-on learning space and resource hub for pre-service and in-service teachers, education professionals, and individuals with disabilities and their families. The center offers a wide range of curriculum materials, children’s and young adult literature, and specialized resources designed to support instructional planning, classroom practice, and inclusive education.

Beyond serving as a lending library, the SCMC provides opportunities for exploration, collaboration, and professional growth. Teacher candidates and practicing educators alike can engage with the materials to design lesson plans, explore adaptive tools for learners with disabilities, and discover strategies that foster creativity and engagement in the classroom. By connecting theory with practice, the SCMC helps prepare educators to create positive, inclusive, and effective learning environments for all students.

Hours of Operation are Monday – Friday 9 am to 5 pm. Closed holidays and when UMF classes are not in session.

Front doors of the Spenciner center in the Education center

Assistive Technology Collection at UMF

Housed in the Spenciner Curriculum Materials Center, the Assistive Technology Collection offers free access to devices, training, and resources that support individuals with disabilities, their families, and education professionals. Many items can be borrowed for use at home, in schools, or in therapeutic settings, making it a valuable hands-on resource for inclusive teaching and learning.

Bookcases, tables, and chairs inside the Spenciner center

Mission of the Spenciner Curriculum Materials Center

The Spenciner Curriculum Materials Center supports UMF teacher candidates, practicing educators, and the wider community by providing educational resources, contemporary children’s literature, STEAM and literacy materials, and assistive technologies. Its mission is to enrich teaching and learning, foster exploration and innovation, and ensure inclusive access to quality instructional tools for children and youth from birth through age 20.

First time visitor?

Click on one of the following tabs for a personalized introduction to what the Curriculum Center has to offer you.

Students

Welcome, Students
The primary mission of the Spenciner Curriculum Materials Center is to provide an opportunity for UMF students in the fields of education, special education, and rehabilitation services to preview and evaluate a variety of materials for use with their students and/or clients. The center’s collection includes books for children, both fiction and non-fiction, as well as manipulatives, assistive devices, and computer software and peripherals. Most of the items in the collection may be checked out for four weeks; some have shorter loan periods, and a few must be used within the center.

All UMF students, regardless of major, are welcome to use the center and borrow materials. Your UMF student ID is your library card. Students may have a total of 30 items checked out at one time (this includes Mantor Library and Spenciner Center items). Spenciner Center staff can provide detailed information about limits on specific material types.

Faculty

Welcome, Faculty
UMF faculty members are encouraged to make use of the Spenciner Curriculum Materials Center to support and enhance their courses. Staff at the center are eager to work with you to discover ways for you to use the collection with your students, and ways that they can use the materials as they prepare for their careers as teachers and rehabilitation specialists.

All faculty members, regardless of discipline, are welcome to use the center and borrow materials. Your UMF faculty ID is your library card. Faculty may have a total of 100 items checked out at one time (this includes Mantor Library and Spenciner Center items). Spenciner Center staff can provide detailed information about limits on specific material types.

Educators

Welcome, Area Educators
Area educators (education and special education professionals, individuals with disabilities, and their families) are invited use the Spenciner Curriculum Materials Center collections to support their work in the classroom or other educational settings. The collection includes children’s fiction and non-fiction books and a wide range of educational materials and educator resources.

Eligible patrons may apply for an area educator’s card, which will entitle the bearer to borrow up to 20 items from either the Spenciner Center or Mantor Library. There are limits on specific material types, and the staff at the center will be happy to explain those in detail.

Tables and chairs and book shelves in the Spenciner center

Spenciner Curriculum Materials Center
University of Maine at Farmington
Kalikow Education Center
186 High Street
Farmington, Maine 04938
tel 207-778-7895
TDD/TYY 207-778-7275
umfmantorlibrary-group@maine.edu